Liaison Notebook

Vol. 40No. 6

By
Richard A. Andrews

Richard A. Andrews, a 2L at UNLV William S. Boyd School of Law, is the 2011–12 liaison to the Section of International Law.

Being a law student in the is all about opportunities. For me, a liaison, it is the opportunity to work with lawyers around the world on issues relevant to law students. For students, it is the opportunity to have access to practitioners. Whether students are looking to get published or find an internship overseas, the possibilities abound. In the words of one Section Leader, “law students are the lifeblood” and the future.

The Section of International Law is free to join for all law student members. Additionally, it is comprised of more than 60 Committees addressing areas of interest such as human rights, secured transactions, international trade and immigration—and there is no cap on the number of committees students can join (all of which are also free). The committees are an excellent way to not only meet attorneys but to research, write, and get work published.

Another benefit of membership is access to the mentoring program, which pairs law students with international law practitioners. The field of international law is massive. Having a mentor can help students narrow down the type of practice they would like to pursue, and also helps build future connections.

Attorneys want to meet law students, answer questions, and talk about their experiences. Students interested in joining should:

Join the ABA Section of International Law—it’s free!

Review the list of committees and join those of interest —also free!

Sign-up for the email listserv of committees they are most interested in—some e-mail more often than others, but it’s a good way to receive interesting updates and learn about internship or volunteer opportunities.

Contact the committee chairs—introduce themselves and volunteer to help with their newsletter, website or any other projects.

Most importantly, follow through on projects—this is a good way for law students to distinguish themselves and is the best way to build reputation and credibility.

As the Law Student Division Liaison, I hope to be a resource for you. Feel free to e-mail me with suggestions, questions or requests.